Car-coupling



(NoModel.)

J. A. WISWALL.

GAR GOUPLING.l

" 10.482,7'74. Y Patented sept.2o,189z.

Nrrnn STATES PATE-Nr OFFICE.

JAMES A. WISWALL, OF EMBARRASS, WISCONSIN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,774, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application led May 3, 1892. Serial No. 431, 747. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. VISWALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Embarrass, in the county of Waupaca and State of Wisconsin,have invented a new and useful Car-Coupling, of which the following isaspecication.

The invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of carcouplings, to enable the same to couple automaticallyand to be uncoupled without necessitating a person going between cars,and to facilitate the coupling of cars having drawheads at differentheights.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of acarprovided with a carcoupling constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan View partly in section. Figs. 3 and 4 aredetail perspective views showing different forms of link from that shownin Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

l designates a draw-head having a limited vertical movement and mountedon a car 2 and provided with horizontally disposed spring-actuated jaws3, which are pivoted at their inner ends and are provided with hooks attheir outer ends to engage arrow-headed links 4. The draw-head 1 isprovided with a horizontal projecting extension or shelf 5, which isbeveled at its middle to guide a link between the jaws 3, and whichforms a support for the front end of the jaws. The jaws are pivoted byvertical pins or bolts 6 and are normally pressed together by springs 7,secured to the draw-head at opposite sides ofthesame,andhavingtheirinner ends arranged within the draw-head and theirouter ends engagingthejawsattheouterendsthereof. The jaws are providedwith vertical standards S and are separated to release the link for uncoupling by a toggle consisting of a lever 9, fulcrumed intermediate itsends on one of the pins 8 and having its outer end connected with theother pin by a bar 10. The inner end of the lever 9 is connected by arod 11 with an operating-lever 12, which is fulcrumed at thc bottom ofthe car, and has its upper end shaped into a handle and arranged withina segmental guide 13,located at the top of the car. The bar 10 ispivoted in a bifurcation at the outer end of the lever 9 and to the pin8, and the jaws are held partially separated by a projection 14,extending horizontally from the top ot' the draw-head and adapted tohave the stems abut against the ends of the same. The jaws may be spreadby moving the upper end of the operating-lever toward the adjacent sideof the car and turning the toggle, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of theaccompanying drawings. The straight links 4 or crooked links 15 may beemployed, the latter being used to couple cars having draw-heads ofdifierent heights, and the link 16, consisting of a narrow head and anordinary link, may be used to couple a car having the improved draw-headwith one having an ordinary pin-and-link coupling. The upper end of thelever 12 is provided with aspringactu ated pawl 17 to engage a notch 18at the outer end of the ratchet. The draw-bar is keyed in the usualmanner, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the accompanyingdrawings.

What I claim is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-headhaving pivoted spring-actuated jaws, a toggle consisting of a leverfulcrumed intermediate its ends on one of the jaws, a bar connecting theouter end of the lever with the other jaw, and an operating-leverconnected with the inner end of said lever, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at its topwith a proj ection, pivoted spring-actuated jaws mounted on' thedraw-head and provided with vertical stems arranged on opposite sides ofthe proj ection and adapted to abut against the same to hold the jawspartly open, a toggle comprisinga lever fulcrumed on one of the stems, abar pivoted to the outer end of the lever and to the stem of the otherjaw, and an operating-lever connected with the inner end of said lever,substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of a IOO draw-head having ahorizontal extension projecting from its bottom and having its outeredge beveled, spring-actuated jaws having their inner ends pivoted inthe draw-head and having their outer ends supported by the saidextension and provided intermediate their ends with vertical standards,a toggle consisting of a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on one ofthe stems, a bar connecting the 1o outer end of the lever with the otherstein,

and an operating-lever connected with the inner end of the other lever,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixedmy signature in r 5 the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES A. WISWALL. Witnesses:

GEO. HEss, M. K. BREED.

